Back to the Pasture by Ivan Rosenberg

According to Bluegrass Unlimited magazine, "It is only a matter of time until Ivan Rosenberg becomes universally recognized as one of the more prolific masters of the resonator guitar."

A highly sought-after instructor, Ivan has taught intermediate/advanced resonator guitar at the Sore Fingers Week bluegrass workshop in the United Kingdom (2004), the British Columbia Bluegrass Workshop in Canada (2003/4), and the California Bluegrass Association music camp in California (2004/5), as well as several other workshops in Montana, California, and Canada. His first instructional DVD should be released around April, 2005.

Ivan's original music has appeared in several movie, television, and event scores including Jerry Bruckheimer/Warner Brothers Films' "Kangaroo Jack" (2003), HBO's "Making Deadwood: The Show Behind the Show" (2004), VH1's "Driven: Dave Matthews" (2003), The Fine Living Network's "Radical Sabbatical" (2003), National Public Radio's "All Songs Considered" (2003), and High Plains Films' acclaimed documentaries "Libby, Montana" (2004) and "American Values/American Wilderness" (2004 - narrated by Christopher Reeves).

Discography:

* Ivan Rosenberg: "Ashes and Coals" (2005)

* "Deadwood: The Complete First Season" (HBO 2005 DVD)

* "Libby, Montana" (2005 DVD)

* Speed Channel's "4 Wheel Planet: 52nd Annual Jeepers Jamboree" (2005 DVD score)

* Slow Drag: forthcoming CD (2005)

* Sue Malcolm: "Highrise Lonesome" (2005)

* Chad Fadely: "Mandolin Escapes" (2005)

* Scott Gates: "Legacy" (2005)

* IBMA World of Bluegrass Showcase Artist Compilation CD (2004)

* Chris Stuart and Backcountry: "Mojave River" (2004)

* Discovery Channel's "Extreme Engineering: Cooper River Bridge" (2004 DVD)

* Richie Reinholdt and Friends: "Acousticals" (2004)

* Bill and Verna Molenda: "A Few Old Memories" (2004)

* Ivan Rosenberg: "The Good, the Bad, and the Lonesome" (2004 compilation)

* "Kangaroo Jack" (2003 DVD)

* "Global Resonations II" Compilation CD (2003)

* Chad Manning: "Old Gnarly Oak" (2003)

* Chris Stuart & Backcountry: "Saints and Strangers" (2003)

* Rich Gregg: "Rich Gregg and Friends" (2003)

* Rodger Jacobson: "Then and Now" (2003)

* "Montana Rockies Bluegrass Association 4th Annual Bluegrass Festival" CD (2003)

* Bill Anderson: "Trains, Chains, and Lonely Women" (2003)

* Iron Lasso: "Live in Parkfield" (2003)

* "Global Resonations" Compilation Benefit CD for Josh Graves (2002)

* Ivan Rosenberg: "Back to the Pasture" (2002)

* "2001 Northwest Louisiana Singer/Songwriter Compilation" CD (2001)

* Dave Famous: "The Demo Years" (2001)

* Ivan Rosenberg: "The Lost Coast" (2001)

* Gary Jenson: "Transitions" (2001)

* Nine Pound Hammer: self-titled (2000)

Highlights:

* Official showcase at IBMA with Chris Stuart & Backcountry (2004)

* Original song "Buckshot" played during IBMA special awards ceremony (2003 & 2004)

* A full year on the Bluegrass Unlimited National Bluegrass survey with CSB song "Silver Quarter"

* Appeared near the top of several other radio airplay charts including Freeform American Roots, Roots Music Report, Americana Music Association, Euro-Americana, and folkdj-L.

Performance Highlights:

* IBMA official showcase (2004)

* Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival, NJ (2004)

* CBA Father's Day Festival,Grass Valley, CA (2004)

* Darrington Bluegrass Festival, WA (2004)

* Tractor Tavern, Seattle, WA (2004)

* Sisters Folk Festival, OR (2004)

* Blythe Bluegrass Festival, CA (2004)

* Tri-State Festival, Kendalville, IN (2004)

* Bitterroot Bluegrass Festival, MT (2002,2004)

* Prescott Bluegrass Festival, AZ (2004)

* Bluegrass on the River Festival, AZ (2004)

* Runner-up at Telluride Band Contest with Nine Pound Hammer (2000)

BACK TO THE PASTURE liner notes by Dave Higgs of Nashville Public Radio:

Along with the fiddle, the resonator guitar, or Dobro®, is perhaps the most expressive of all the bluegrass instruments. Its easy access to microtones, hastened by the use of a slide, gives it a unique ability to emulate the human voice. In the right hands, the resonator guitar is eminently capable of duplicating a myriad of emotions - from a jubilant, euphoric shout all the way to a primeval, gut-wrenching moan. In the right hands, it becomes an instrument of impassioned feeling, dark mystery and great beauty. Ivan Rosenberg has those "right hands."

Ivan understands that great reso playing starts and ends with emphasizing the important parts of the melody. And what melodies he plays on "Back to the Pasture," his sterling follow-up to "The Lost Coast," his highly acclaimed 2001 debut.

"Back to the Pasture" traverses an immense expanse of bluegrassical ground, drawing upon the pop sounds of the Bee Gees, Neanderthal-grass from Wiley & Zeke Morris and eight mesmerizing, memorable and mouth-wateringly fine originals from Ivan's fertile musical imagination. That imagination and flair for the dramatic was operating in overdrive on "Late Night Ramble," co-written with buddy Jason Mowery - a dobrolic romp as big as those spacious Montana skies that inspired it. Ivan and Jason also collaborated on the high, lonesome "Out Among the Corn," which pays instrumental tribute to those endless fields of corn that run rampant in Jason's home state of Indiana.

The group does a fine job bluegrassizing the Bee Gees' "I've Gotta Get a Message to You," which Cliff Waldron originally brought into the bluegrass camp in the early 70's. Thanks to Lost Highway singer Ken Orrick, this improbable tune becomes vintage sounding bluegrass. Eric Uglum handles the lead vocal on the Morris Brothers' plaintive old ballad, "Somebody Loves You Darling," on which Ivan shines with some tasty, relaxed and understated old-school dobro complete with palm harmonics and some of the prettiest fills you'll ever hear.

Ivan is also a sublime clawhammer banjo player and he gets to strut his considerable talents on the chilling, spooky and Ozark-flavored "Devil's Chute," played in tandem with fiddler Chad Clouse of Due West, as well as on "Soda Springs," an exuberant old-timey tour de force.

"Last Light" spotlights the lyrical quality of Ivan's composing - a lush and gorgeous melody that's deeply moving. "Pepperwood Hollow" starts with a measured and moody reso introduction before the band kicks it into high gear. The group really goes to town on the title track, a hard-driving, righteous, ultra-bluegrassy romp that would make Uncle Josh proud.

The backup musicians deserve special praise for their immeasurable contributions to the project. Jason Mowery is a monster on the fiddle and mandolin, and Eric Uglum's guitar work is itself almost worth the price of admission. Marshall Andrews keeps everyone rock-solidly on the beat with his interesting bass lines and Janet Beazley sparkles on the banjo. "Crazy Pat" Conway's piercing tenor vocal on "Somebody Loves You Darling" makes for one of the album's many highlights.

"Back to the Pasture" spotlights the resonator guitar's storied past and paints a vivid portrait of its future. And in the multi-talented hands of Ivan Rosenberg, that future looks bright indeed.

Dave Higgs

Bluegrass Breakdown

Nashville Public Radio

Nashville, TN

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